The island in the distance, as seen from Herne Bay.

Watchman Island is a small sandstone island in the Waitemata Harbour of Auckland, New Zealand. It lies approximately one kilometer north of the Herne Bay suburb.

The island is well visible from the Auckland Harbour Bridge, which caused it to briefly make headlines when Adidas in 2005 erected a metal crouching figure (shown doing a haka) as part of a campaign to promote the All Blacks during the Lions' rugby tour. While Adidas noted that it had consulted on the erection of the statue, it was eventually toppled from the top of the island by a saboteur claiming that it was culturally insensitive. The island is customary Māori property.¹²

References

Coordinates: 36°50′06″S 174°43′55″E / -36.834998, 174.731948

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